Toshiba gains 51GB HD-DVD approval
- Posted September 9th, 2007 at 07:52 EDT by
- 6,796 views
- 59 Comments
The DVD Forum, the international DVD standards authority, has approved a 51GB single-sided HD-DVD disc.
This disc uses three layers to store more information that is currently available on the Blu-ray discs, although those, too, can support multi layers to cram more data into one disc. In fact a Blu-ray disc can store 50GB on two layers.
Even though this new disc is most likely months away from being ready for mass production, it may serve as a threat to Blu-ray's main selling point: its superior storage capacity. On the other hand, 200GB Blu-ray discs, which use up to 8 layers, are currently being prototyped. The question then becomes, how much space is too much? In terms of high definition videos, it will soon become redundant, as movies and extra features will only take so much space, but perhaps for simple data storage, the bigger the better.
According to Toshiba, its entire line of HD-DVD players will be able to read these new three layer, 51GB discs, but will require a firmware update to do so.
Be sure to check back for more HD format war news.
Source: ScreenDigest
Comments
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Dogswithguns |
Dogswithguns- 9:29am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 5
WOW, let's just keep both formats on the shelves for all to enjoy..... Im going with the blu-ray.
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galaxyman14 |
Apollo15- 10:16am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 8
Sony, or someone who makes BD discs, should release a 100 gig disc. I'm sure it's possible. It would nullify HD-DVD's increase in size. And if the PS3 could read the discs that would be awesome! They could just update the firmware like the HD-DVD guys are doing, right?
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Psydistix
- 10:19am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 9
While this may show that this competition will be heated, there is one key aspect to keep in mind. The XBox 360s' still do not have a built-in HD-DVD players in them. Nor, do the games get built into an HD-DVD. If Microsoft is truly going to support HD-DVD, they will have no choice, but to implement an HD-DVD disc for developers to make games with. Add-ons have proven to fail in video game history. Whether it is Sega, Sony or Microsoft, they have all fallen short in one form or another by trying to add-on the consumer, sort of speak.
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alegionwithintent |
Thearmouredmarch- 10:20am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 10
i think its kind of arbitary already because even if it does bring them alongside blu-ray in terms of capacity, blu-ray already has such a backing in place that they effectively have the drop on HD-DVD anyway. just as -Zaku- was saying.
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Real Gambler
- 10:25am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 11
Would be curious to see how much more they cost to produce, and how easy it is to update the firmware....
Compatibility would also be an issue... It's ok to say Toshiba player can be upgraded, but what about people who own something else.... Can the HD-DVD 360 addon be upgraded as well? What about toshiba laptops with players??? They all have to work, otherwise, many people won't be happy if they buy a movie on a three layer dvd and it doesn't work on their xbox, laptop or whatever else...
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Stef Nighthawk
- 10:51am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 13
So they are admitting that storage is everything. Still Blu-ray has an extra layer of copyright protection that will still keep the movie studios interested.
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Staticneuron |
Staticneuron- 11:52am BST - September 9th, 2007
- 16
Blu ray has other advantages such as pushing a higher bitrate (hence the sound quality is always rated higher) but this makes alot of things pointless doesn't it. Without a doubt I have a feeling that they can make triple layer blu rays. But they won't because financially it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense for the HD-DVD camp other than them saying see... we can do in three layers what blu ray does in two.
By the time the hd dvd camp actually uses this, I highly doubt their prices on the 50 gigs willl match the 50 gig prices on the BR discs. Which points to where this war is going. Support, superior technology and a lower price point will make things a wrap. It echos's so many issues.
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Draco |
ExPresident- 12:03pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 17
Blu-ray still has the ultimate ability to go with a larger disc size... they've got room to move while HD-DVD is touting this as their major bonus point. Biggy. Blu-ray has some huge support for them. The war won't be over for awhile but I think a winner has been pretty much declared.
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tmac032986 |
tmac032986- 1:07pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 18
Another desperation move. When, oh when will this damn war end. Aren't the results already clear. Blu-Ray will reign supreme in the end, it's just a question of how long and how much more b.s. we have to listen to.
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Jbthegreat
- 1:27pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 20
Well isn't that a kick in the balls....btw not for a long time are we ever gonna need 200gb
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Random1448
- 2:15pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 22
so three layers is the limit for HD-DVD, blu-ray has no limit, they can just release a 75 gig one.
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stennex |
stennex- 2:48pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 23
well this just show you how slow HD dvd technology. Blu-Ray had 50 GB fom last year and have already gone up to 200GB. Big deal id HD dvd can produce a 50 GB disk they still suck. Blu-Ray has a better layer coating for its disk than HD dvd disks. I keep saying Apple, Dell, Sony, Acer are on the board with others so blu-ray wins. No more talking.
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naruto007
- 2:51pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 24
sony just has to lower their BD players.burners and media and they have won the war even if toshiba come with a 100gb single layer disc i think 25gb and 50gb are enough for this gen now just start lowering the price instead of fighting who has the biggest capacity disc since this will only increase the price
you know what customers want sony just do it. :)
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tuaamin13 |
TuaAmin13- 2:52pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 25
Yeah, combo this to the fact that China is making a CH DVD. Basically it's HD DVD with a new propreitary format. All CH players play HD DVD, but not necessarily the other way around.
Hey mods you should make an article on it.http://n4g.com/industrynews/News-66305.aspx
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oopsadoops |
hbears93- 2:54pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 26
a kick in the balls indeed jb.
blu-ray still should win in the longrun.
this is one bad sign, look at all of the good ones.
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Psydistix
- 2:56pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 28
Alot of people are wondering how in the world a 200GB Blu-Ray or HD-DVD disc could be necessary for a movie or a video game. For a new release movie, it would not seem necessary at first. With MMORPGs and more memory(altogether) needed for more expansion in games, 200GB could very well be necessary when the developers start to truly dig into the capabilities of the PS3. The one aspect where this will seriously come into play sooner rather than later is with the PC. It has been said that more PCs are being made with built-in Blu Ray DVD player capabilities and playback. With this much memory on a disc, the amount of movies to be saved to it are great. In the case of the movie collections of some, they may be able to download all of their movies to one blu-ray disc. It is only a matter of time before Blu-Ray downloads are in a good swing. The PC is actually the immediate key here.
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TH3JOK3R003
- 3:12pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 29
oh wow congrats to toshiba but why have a 51GB HD-DVD for? Movies??? Games i would understand but Movies. They don't have any PC companies supporting them while Blu-Ray have 2 now. While HD-DVD is sticking to fight in the movies industry. Blu-Ray already in movies, games, and pc disturbution so why fight and lose???
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Triple Dk |
TripleDk- 3:52pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 32
So, if BD get's 3 layer, it will be 75 gig? Well, this can't be so big a threat (200 gigs!!! "Too much?" they probably said the same to 1 gig flash drives), didn't the disc reader in the 360 damage the disc anyway´? If that goes for all HD-DVD players, then BD is defintely still on top!
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alchemyuser1 |
alchemyuser1- 4:40pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 33
blu is always better babby huhyeaaa!
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k_nice_66_11_77 |
k_nice_617- 4:41pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 34
all I'm saying is impressive. Let the battle of HD wars kick in!!!!
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lurkingshadow89 |
DEATH555666- 7:17pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 36
blue ray is already at that stage the tife has already turned. i most luagh my Asss off though. if hd dvd's r 5 dollars more then blue ray now. cant wait to see what they r going to cost once that comes in. oshiba u just put i long blade through your own throat on that one.
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C64isStillTheBest
- 10:15pm BST - September 9th, 2007
- 43
No news here, 2 layers of Blu-ray = 50 GBs, so 3 layers = 75 GBs 50% more than the 3 layer HD-DVD. How pathetic can the HD-DVD camp get?????
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frank_magnet |
Frank_Magnt- 5:51am BST - September 10th, 2007
- 48
200GB are you kidding me? A disc that has more storage than a desktop pc is just ridiculous but very cool! Give me the entire LOTR on one disc then my jaw will drop!
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The Cleaner
- 8:22am BST - September 10th, 2007
- 49
HD DVD capacity is interesting but @ tuaamin is really on to something. Checkout this story:
http://n4g.com/industrynews/News-66305.aspx
This is why it is dangerous to pin PS3 success or failure to Bluray. If the worlds most important market - China, is going a derivitive of HD DVD then guys I can't see how Bluray can survivie. This standard has been selected and supported by the Chinnese Government as being the standard to be manufactured and used by the massive Chinnese population. It also means that their players read HD DVD but also a unique Chinnese version, thus bypassing the need to pay for technology royalties.
What does this mean? Very very very cheap HD DVD players and Movies... It also means if a studio wants to tap Asian market & its 1/3 of the worlds population - they must now make movies on the HD-DVD format. I'd suggest - very strongly, that Sony get back to its knitting and focus on games for PS3 - quickly.
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Tha_Last_Romeo |
Tha_Last_Romeo- 8:37am BST - September 10th, 2007
- 50
Why cant they just give up... I am expecting them to raise a price for this one.
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